This has got to be the wordiest thread series I've seen yet. It's amazing what happens when people start discussing political and social theory.

Someone expressed interest as to why so many people are "turning to religion" these days. Hmmm...

Define "religion". The common notion of religion seems to be the practice of a belief system in a divine power, a "god", or a supreme being, coupled with membership and participation in some sort of church or religious organization. Is that what you think it is?

I don't. I think that anything people have a very deep faith in is, for them, a religion. Accordingly, some people are religious about money, some about possessions, some about fame, some about Jesus, some about science and rationality, some about patriotism, some about beauty, some about popularity, some about sex, some about military supremacy, and so on. They are all seeking a form of security, a form of safety, something to belong to that gives them a strong sense of identity and a purpose for their existence.

That's a broader definition of religion.

So, if you think more people are "turning to religion"...well, I think everyone I have ever met was deeply religious about something or several things. Only question being...about what?

And if so, how well does it serve them and others around them? And is their religion tolerant of others' religions? Those are the more vital considerations.

And fascists? The "fascist", in my definition, is simply a person of any belief system whatsoever who is very fearful and extremely intolerant toward people in other belief systems...and probably willing to use force to convert them or suppress them or wipe them out. So, either Communists or Capitalists or Socialists or Christians may or may not be fascists...depending on their tolerance of others who are different from themselves.

- LH